The General Layout options are only available if you have the central topic selected. These options apply to the entire map. You can only set these options in Map View.
Select the central topic.
On the Format tab, click the Topics dialog launcher.
On the General Layout tab, choose the desired attributes for the map.
Organic appearance makes the main topic connecting lines look more like hand-drawn lines.
Display shadow adds a shadow to the topic connecting lines and topic shapes.
Main Topic Line Width makes main topic connecting lines thicker or thinner.
Minimum Main Topics Height controls the spacing between the main topics.
Use the Style button if you wish to:
Save as New Style Default: Save all the topic's format settings as the automatic style for topics of the same type at this level. The settings become part of the current map's style. All existing topics at this level assume these attributes (unless they have been individually formatted), as will any new topics you create. You can save these new settings as a Style Template that you can re-use on other maps. You can see these new attributes in the Modify Style view.
Reset to Style Default: Reset the topic to the automatic formatting of the current style.